Thursday, 4 June 2015

Collecting household equipmentEarlier this year the General Manager of St Martins Housing Trust Charity, whose aim is to eradicate sleeping on the streets of Norfolk, visited Old Buckenham High School, to address the students. He concentrated his talk on their new venture of fundraising to equip Lakenfields, a building to accommodate more senior personnel (over 50 years old) who have experienced homelessness.The property at Lakenfields comprises of 33 units, which will be made suitable to accommodate single older persons, with eight designed to wheelchair standard, and will incorporate a warden. To date eight units have been transformed and accommodated. Norwich City Council have signed a long lease with the charity, who will work with Norfolk County Council to provide good quality care, with housing for local older persons with history of homelessness. The charity aims to ensure homeless persons found sleeping on the streets of Norwich and Norfolk, following a period under their care, do not return to this situation.Resulting from the visit to Old Buckenham High School, staff and pupils responded by collecting household utensils and equipment needed to furnish these units. Under the leadership of Debbie Cawley, the result was far beyond any expectations and the charity are delighted in both the response and the opportunity to move forward in the operation. All the collected utensils and equipment, a good van load, has now been delivered to Norwich.

Over many years the School have supported the charity, mainly with contributions of food each December.More information relating to the work of St Martins available on www.stmartinshousing.org.uk